Philanthropy
&
Grant Partnership
In September 2025, President John Dramani Mahama formally designated MiDA as the government’s primary focal institution for coordinating philanthropic and grant-based partnerships — anchoring Ghana’s development agenda in transparency, excellence, and lasting impact.
Ensuring alignment with Ghana's national priorities, including the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) and the Sustainable Development Goals.
National Development Alignment
MiDA serves as the central institution ensuring philanthropic partnerships align with Ghana’s development priorities, including the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
01
Strategic Coordination & Government Alignment
02
Grant Proposal Development & Technical Support
03
Transparent Financial Oversight & Compliance
04
Knowledge, Monitoring & Learning Excellence
Core Mandate
Four pillars of institutional responsibility
Coordination & Strategy
Proposal Development & Grant Management
Fiduciary Oversight & Compliance
Knowledge & Performance Hub
Advancing Transparent, Impact-Driven Partnerships for National Development
Through strengthened collaboration, transparent governance systems, and strategic grant coordination, MiDA is positioned to enhance development financing, improve institutional efficiency, and deliver measurable socio-economic impact across Ghana.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why has MiDA been appointed as the Government’s focal institution for philanthropic and grant-based partnerships?
A: MiDA has a proven track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with international funding. From managing over $1 billion in MCC Compacts I & II, to operationalising agro-industrial zones under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA) and launching digital job initiatives, MiDA has consistently delivered with transparency, efficiency, and results. Its appointment reflects the Government’s commitment to consolidating efforts under a trusted, performance-driven institution capable of turning philanthropic commitments into impactful results aligned with national priorities.
Q: How will MiDA avoid duplication with the 24-Hour Economy, Ministry of Finance (MoF) or GIPC?
A: MiDA’s role complements – not competes – with MoF, GIPC or any agency. MoF remains the custodian of public finances. GIPC remains the investment promotion agency. But when it comes to coordinating programme delivery, structuring proposals, and ensuring execution, MiDA is now the designated SPOC (Single Point of Contact). This streamlines efforts and eliminates fragmentation.
Q: What specific roles will MiDA perform under this new designation?
A: MiDA will perform five core functions:
- Coordination and Strategy: Serving as the central coordinating body for all government engagements with philanthropic partners, ensuring alignment with Ghana’s national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. The unique nature of the MiDA Board which comprises several government ministers and top-level private sector representatives, reflects this role.
- Proposal Development and Grant Management: Assisting ministries in preparing high-quality funding proposals and managing secured grants to ensure timely delivery, measurable results, and compliance with reporting standards.
- Fiduciary Oversight and Compliance: Applying robust financial management and procurement systems to ensure transparent and accountable utilisation of grant resources, thereby strengthening partner confidence.
- Knowledge and Performance Hub: Acting as a repository of best practices in grant management and a centre of excellence for monitoring, evaluation, and learning to ensure partnerships deliver lasting benefits to the people of Ghana.
- Partnership Development and Execution: Identifying and coordinating transformative public-private partnerships to drive transformational projects that align with national development goals, unlock capital, and accelerate Ghana’s economic transformation.
Q: How will this impact existing government agencies already working with donors and partners?
A: MiDA’s role is to unify and coordinate – not to replace – existing efforts. It will support MDAs by providing structure, compliance oversight, and execution support, allowing ministries to focus on sector leadership and technical delivery, while MiDA manages cross-sector coordination, fundraising, and reporting.
Q: Is MiDA only focused on agriculture and the 24-Hour Economy?
A: No. MiDA’s mandate spans multiple flagship priorities:
- Digitising government operations by: building capacities for active participation in emerging technologies (e.g. coding, robotics, and AI), and overhauling technical education to align with the skill needs of a digitised economy.
- Big PUSH infrastructure
- Digital Jobs & Youth Hubs
- Agro-industrial transformation
- Green Economy
- And others tied to the Economic Transformation Agenda (ETA)
This makes MiDA uniquely positioned to deliver across sectors.
Q: Can philanthropic organisations engage directly with MDAs, or must everything go through MiDA?
A: Philanthropic organisations may continue sector-specific engagements, but all strategic and financial partnerships under the Government’s flagship programmes will now be coordinated through MiDA. This ensures coherence, accountability, and alignment across all programmes, reducing fragmentation and duplication.
Q: What role will MiDA play in the proposed Ghana Philanthropic Trust Fund?
A: MiDA will serve as the operational backbone and coordinating agency for the Trust Fund, helping to:
- Engage and support partners like OSF and others
- Structure programmes and monitor delivery
- Ensure that philanthropic capital is used strategically, transparently and effectively
The Trust Fund itself will be independently governed, but MiDA will manage delivery under Presidential authority.
Q: How does MiDA’s role ensure value for money and donor confidence?
A: MiDA’s fiduciary systems are internationally benchmarked, with safeguards developed under MCC standards. It ensures rigorous financial management, procurement integrity, and transparent reporting, which are elements that build confidence with donors and development partners.
Q: Can MiDA handle this additional workload without becoming overstretched?
A: MiDA is actively strengthening its capacity, recruiting leaders, and drawing in global expertise. Its model allows it to scale through partnerships, not internal bloat. It remains lean, focused, and performance-driven.
Q: Will MiDA be open to external scrutiny or oversight?
A: Yes. MiDA welcomes independent oversight and has historically operated under strong governance arrangements. Its Board includes representatives from key ministries and civil society. Under this new designation, donor reporting and performance monitoring will be built into all programmes. MiDA will also strengthen public transparency through an up-to-date website, regular performance reports, feedback mechanisms, and timely responses to information requests.
Q: What will success look like under this new model?
A:
- Ghana accesses more philanthropic capital with fewer bottlenecks
- Presidential priorities are scoped and executed with speed and precision
- Ministries are supported and enabled, not bypassed
- Partners have greater confidence in delivery
- Ghana becomes a case study in how to use sovereign-backed, donor-aligned delivery for real impact.
Q: Why not create a new agency for this function?
A: Ghana does not need new bureaucracy. MiDA already exists under Act 702 (as amended), is governed by a Board that includes Ministry representatives, and reports directly to the Office of the President. Creating something new would delay execution. This is about using what already works.
Q: What’s the biggest risk in this model and how is it mitigated?
A: The biggest risk is fragmentation. Too many players pulling in different directions. MiDA mitigates this by unifying efforts under one disciplined interface. The President’s public mandate ensures that MiDA has the authority to coordinate, and the capacity to deliver.
Q. What qualifies MiDA to manage philanthropic funds and private capital?
A: MiDA’s systems are already benchmarked to international standards. It has managed and accounted for donor funds from MCC, Mastercard Foundation, World Bank technical partners and others. Its governance structure includes:
- A cross-governmental Board
- Donor-grade procurement and M&E systems
- Proven fiduciary discipline and reporting track record
Q: Is this appointment about politics or delivery?
A: This is a results-based decision. MiDA’s designation is based on performance, not politics. It has delivered under three different administrations, each time with international audit trails and partner trust. The President is clear: this is about getting things done, fast and well.
Q: What does this mean for Ghana’s international partners?
A: It gives them a trusted, professional interface for coordinating philanthropic support to government flagship programmes. Partners like the Open Society Fund (OSF), Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) and philanthropists now have a single door through which to structure engagements, co-design programmes, and ensure results. This reduces risk, increases speed, and enables stronger alignment with Ghana’s transformation agenda. MiDA will serve as the single point of contact for structuring, negotiating, and managing grant-funded public initiatives but not as a gatekeeper for civil society. Existing partnerships between development partners and NGOs will continue unhindered. This model is designed to complement, not compete with, the vital work of non-governmental organisations.